Do You Read Like I Read?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always read several books simultaneously.  Novels, mostly. The highest number was seven, but that included Middlemarch, which I read very slowly, over a period of months. These days I read no more than three books at a time, probably because my reading speed has slowed down. A pity, since I’ve hundreds of books on my Kindle and piled up on my desk and in my bookcases waiting their turn.

Why do I do this? One reason is I have to stop reading when something awful, usually graphic, happens to a character I care about. The following day I’m able to read on.  In the meanwhile, I’ve reached for another book.

I also read more than one book at a time because I like variety. I write mysteries because I love to read them. I read ghost mysteries, cozies, historical mysteries, and mysteries with a canine sleuth. I read mysteries that are considerably grittier than the traditional mysteries I write. I also enjoy reading women’s fiction, literary fiction, and the occasional fantasy. I never confuse the various plot lines or characters of the books I’m reading,--probably because I’ve been doing this for so long.

I used to love to read the classics, but these days I prefer the style and language of more current novels. My level of concentration isn’t what it used to be. In fact, more often than not, I fall asleep when I’m reading late at night. Does that ever happen to you?

Do you read more than one book at a time? Have your tastes changed over the years? Leave a comment and let me know.